What effect does increasing resistance in a circuit have on current flow?

Increasing resistance in a circuit has a direct effect on current flow according to Ohm's Law, which states that current (I) is equal to voltage (V) divided by resistance (R), or I = V/R. When resistance increases, for a given constant voltage, the current must decrease because the relationship is inversely proportional. This means that as resistance gets higher, it becomes more difficult for current to flow through the circuit.

For example, if you have a circuit with a fixed voltage source, and you increase resistance by adding more resistive elements, the overall current flowing will be less as the resistance opposes the flow of electrons. This principle is fundamental to understanding electrical circuits and is crucial in applications such as HVACR, where managing current flow is necessary for equipment operation and efficiency.